A Newcastle surgeon is leading a project using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve how organ are assessed before lifesaving transplants.
Colin Wilson, of the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust is co-lead of a project - called OrQA - which has just received £1m in funding. OrQA - Organ Quality Assessment - works by using software similar to that used for facial recognition to analyse the quality of a donor organ. The trust runs both the Freeman and the RVI.
This should, medics hope, improve how many organs they are able to use for transplantation. It is estimated that using the technology could enable 200 more kidney transplants and 100 more liver transplants a year in the UK. said: “Up until now, we haven’t had anything to help us as surgeons at the time of organ retrieval. This is a really important step for professionals and patients to make sure people can get the right transplant as soon as possible."
The surgeon explained that the software "scores" the quality of an organ to help doctors understand if it is healthy enough for transplant. The new funding comes from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is backed by Government ministers.
Professor Jackie Leach Scully of the University of New South Wales, Australia, is also involved in the OrQA project. Prof Scully actually received a liver transplant in Newcastle. She said: "Like any other transplant patient I’ve been aware of the chronic shortage of suitable organs, and the need to encourage organ donation, but it was only after becoming involved in this project that I realised that valuable organs may be wasted because of difficulty in evaluating their suitability.
"This has really brought home the value of an information-providing tool to support surgeons’ decision-making. I believe it’s also essential for patients and the wider public to understand that this system could make it more likely that their donated organs will be used successfully and equitably in transplant."
Health minister Neil O’Brien added: "Technology has the ability to revolutionise the way we care for people and this cutting-edge technology will improve organ transplant services. Developed here in the UK, this pioneering new method could save hundreds of lives and ensure the best use of donated organs.
"I encourage everyone to register their organ donation decision. Share it with your family so your loved ones can follow your wishes and hopefully save others."
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